Man walks free despite punching security guard in face

Tara Miko
Reporter
Tara started with APN in 2010 after graduating with a journalism and politics degree from Griffith University in Brisbane. After two-and-a-half years working on APN papers in the Bowen Basin in Central Queensland, she joined the team at The Chronicle in February 2013. In September that year she took over the reins of the Rural Weekly.

A TOOWOOMBA man who punched a CBD nightclub security guard in the face in an unprovoked attack walked from court a free man despite calls for a harsher penalty.

Sergeant Tim Hutton told the Toowoomba Magistrates Court Cody Stephen Reid, 23, and another man were being escorted out of Agenda nightclub in the early hours of June 18 by two security guards.

As the group walked past another guard, Reid lashed out and hit a third security guard in the face causing it to swell and graze his gum.

Sgt Hutton said while the injuries were not severe, the security guard had been caught unaware.

Taken to the watch house and interviewed, Sgt Hutton said Reid admitted to police he didn't know why he punched the officer, but said he had been grossly affected by alcohol.

Solicitor Phil Stainton said Reid, who rarely drank alcohol, had been celebrating his sister's birthday at the nightclub and had too much to drink.

Noting his client's criminal history which included past convictions for alcohol-fuelled incidents, Mr Stainton called for Reid to be placed on probation.

But after Magistrate Graham Lee indicated probation was not appropriate under the circumstances, Sgt Hutton called for the penalty to reflect the potential seriousness of striking someone unaware in light of the One Punch Can Kill campaign.

Sgt Hutton said the security officer was only doing his job when he was struck without provocation or warning, and submitted any penalty imposed should serve as a lesson to the wider community alcohol-fuelled violence would not be tolerated.